Latest news with #Kuiper
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Science
- Hamilton Spectator
Biognosys Launches Spectronaut 20 and SpectroMine 5, Setting New Benchmarks in Immunopeptidomics
ZURICH and BOSTON, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Biognosys, a global leader in mass spectrometry-based proteomics solutions, announces the launch of Spectronaut® 20 and SpectroMine™ 5 at the ASMS 2025 Annual Conference, taking place June 1–5 in Baltimore, MD. These major software updates mark significant technological advances in unspecific search performance, immunopeptidomics, and cloud-ready proteomics workflows. At the core of the new releases is Kuiper, Biognosys' novel search engine, powered by proprietary prediction models specifically optimized for unspecific searches. Kuiper delivers record-breaking peptide identifications, especially for immunopeptidomics applications. Key Features of Spectronaut® 20: Kuiper also powers SpectroMine™ 5, Biognosys' latest release for DDA-based proteomics, now offering significantly enhanced identification performance. With newly added Linux support, SpectroMine joins Spectronaut in enabling high-throughput proteomics data analysis in cloud and high-performance computing (HPC) environments—enabling scalable, next-generation research workflows. The applications of Biognosys' next-generation software will be highlighted through multiple scientific posters, two breakfast seminars, and workshop participations. These include two joint presentations with Greywolf Therapeutics on advanced immunopeptidomics workflows, as well as contributions to a workshop on best-practice reporting guidelines for DIA data. Biognosys will also present its latest technological innovation, the P2 Enrichment System—a robust, nanoparticle-based plasma workflow offering unprecedented depth, reproducibility, and throughput in plasma proteomics. Originally introduced at ASMS 2024, the P2 system will be featured in a new scientific poster and in a presentation by collaborators from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Their research demonstrates P2's real-world application in a clinical study on circulating biomarker discovery for advancing early detection of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, Biognosys has been invited to deliver an oral presentation on Proteoverse® Digital Proteome, the company's proprietary multi-tissue, multi-species proteome expression atlas. As one of the most comprehensive resources of its kind it provides powerful insights into the proteomic landscape across human and preclinical species, supporting cutting-edge research in drug discovery and translational science. 'Immunopeptidomics is key to understanding how our therapeutics are making a difference for patients. Spectronaut 20 empowers us to leverage complex datasets with greater speed and depth, delivering critical insights into MHC-I antigen modulation and its effects on immune recognition,' said Daniel Green, Ph.D., Head of Bioinformatics at Greywolf Therapeutics. 'The P2 Enrichment System from Biognosys was seamlessly transferred to our lab at the Broad Institute. We were impressed by the clarity and robustness of the protocols, as well as the exceptional performance of the technology across our sample sets,' said Steven A. Carr, Ph.D., Senior Director of Proteomics and Institute Scientist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. For more information on Biognosys' scientific presence at ASMS 2025, please visit: About Spectronaut® Spectronaut is Biognosys' flagship data analysis software for data-independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry (MS) based proteomics. The software employs advanced Search and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms to translate data into actionable insights for life science research. Spectronaut enables reproducible and precise quantification of thousands of proteins in a single experiment and provides multi-dimensional insights into protein expression, function, and structure across all major biological species and sample types. For more information, visit About Biognosys Biognosys is a leading contract research organization (CRO) specializing in proteomics services for early-stage R&D through clinical trial biomarker monitoring. Partnering with the most innovative biotech and pharmaceutical companies worldwide, Biognosys utilizes unique, patented technologies and high-resolution mass spectrometry to quantify thousands of proteins with unmatched precision, depth, and throughput. With laboratories near Zuerich, Switzerland and Boston, Massachusetts, Biognosys combines scientific expertise and next-generation proteomics to accelerate drug discovery and development, and supports translational and preclinical research, and clinical trials for precision medicine. Learn more at Media Contacts Kristina Beeler, Ph.D. Chief Product Development and Marketing Officer
NDTV
3 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Explaining The BharatNet Vs Starlink Debate And What's At Stake
As India accelerates its ambition to become a digitally inclusive economy, a new debate is heating up - one that pits the government's homegrown BharatNet initiative against Elon Musk's Starlink, the satellite internet service of SpaceX, and Amazon's Kuiper. The question making the rounds on social media is: What happens to BharatNet if Starlink enters the Indian market at scale? Here's a detailed look at where the two stand. What Is BharatNet? Launched in 2011 as the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), and later rebranded as BharatNet, the project aims to connect over 2.5 lakh gram panchayats (village councils) with high-speed broadband via optical fibre. It's a massive public infrastructure undertaking, backed by state and central government funds, and intended to act as the backbone for rural digitisation - from e-governance to telemedicine and online education. Unlike private players, BharatNet doesn't chase profits. Its aim is to democratise access to the internet and level the playing field between India's urban and rural landscapes. What Is Starlink? Starlink is SpaceX's satellite internet venture, offering high-speed broadband via low-earth orbit satellites. Instead of relying on towers or fibre cables, Starlink beams internet from space, bypassing terrestrial infrastructure entirely, relying on satellite communication. In remote or underserved areas, this can be a game-changer. The company already operates in over 60 countries and is positioning itself as a solution for areas that fibre can't easily reach. Elon Musk's company is set to begin operations in India within 12 months by offering internet speed of 600 to 700 Gbps, according to NDTV Profit quoting Department of Telecommunication sources. This initial beaming capacity will only support between 30,000 and 50,000 users at a time and in certain cities or built-up areas, but this will eventually expand to a staggering 3 Tbps, or terabytes per second, by 2027, DoT sources said, pending regulatory approval. Why The Debate Matters At its heart, the BharatNet vs Starlink debate isn't about which technology is superior - it's about who controls India's digital future. Starlink offers rapid deployment and global coverage. But its entry into India raises questions about: Data sovereignty Pricing regulation Revenue repatriation Fair competition with local infrastructure BharatNet, meanwhile, is Indian. Its architecture is designed to serve national priorities, not shareholder returns. Starlink has been trying to enter the Indian market since 2022, and was given a letter of intent by the government earlier this month. Both Airtel and Jio had opposed its entry. Can They Co-Exist? BharatNet and Starlink serve different needs and different terrains. While BharatNet is better suited for dense rural clusters and institutional connectivity, Starlink could help in extremely remote areas, disaster zones, and difficult terrain such as the Northeast, the Himalayas or islands like Lakshadweep. But the concern is this: If Starlink floods the market with cheaper, faster connections, it could undermine the BharatNet model - particularly the business viability of local service providers using BharatNet infrastructure. Several users on social media say that BharatNet should pivot towards a hybrid model - one that incorporates both fibre and satellite technologies. Though the Indian government has not said anything about this, some news outlets are claiming that the hybrid model is under consideration. While optical fibre can provide high-capacity, low-latency connections, satellite internet can be provided to gram panchayats in remote an hard-to-reach areas. The Risk of Digital Colonisation Allowing unregulated access to global satellite networks also opens the door to what several internet users and experts call "digital colonisation". The concern stems from Starlink's Africa plan, where it is providing high-speed internet from Nigeria to Congo. In a strong Substack piece, user Edward Shepherd said the colonisers are orbiting 550-km above the sea level, referring to the low-orbit satellites used by Starlink to provide a reliable internet connection. What India Gains from Supporting BharatNet The homegrown BharatNet is creating opportunities for village-level entrepreneurs, technicians and service providers. Further, the fibre is Indian, the management is Indian and so are the objectives. BharatNet also provides a long-term resilience since national control over digital infrastructure is vital in an era of cyber warfare and information geopolitics. Finally, BharatNet aligns with schemes like Digital India, Jan Dhan and Ayushman Bharat to bring services to the last mile.
Daily Maverick
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
After the Bell: Who is afraid of Elon Musk?
I wonder a bit about why Musk is so determined to have Starlink operating here. He has already complied with regulations in other countries, and I obviously understand he would not want to give up any ownership. And why should he! But he looked almost unhinged when talking about our BEE laws at the Qatar Economic Forum last week and clearly doesn't like what South Africa has become. Friday's announcement by the communications and digital technologies minister, the DA's Solly Malatsi, that he is looking at relaxing the regulations around BEE ownership for satellite internet service providers certainly looks like it is tailor-made for Elon Musk. Coming just hours after that impossible meeting in the Oval Office — and amid indications that, in fact, US President Donald Trump brought up the Starlink issue with President Cyril Ramaphosa in their meeting afterwards — it's hard to escape the conclusion that one led to the other. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads There is much to be concerned about here. Is it really the case that we decide to change our laws just because a current friend of the current US President wants us to? To put it another way, if Starlink were owned by someone else, would any of this be happening? Actually, yes, some of it probably would be. Starlink is not the only service of its type. Kuiper, driven by Amazon (owned by Jeff Bezos, another strong supporter of Trump), is also gaining ground and would want the same regulation relaxation as Starlink. What makes this all so much more difficult is that the idea of using transformation methods other than equity in this space has been around for a while. I cannot understand, given how prominent this issue had become, why Malatsi sat on his hands and appeared to do nothing. Now it really looks like this was the result of pressure from Musk and Trump. And now, of course, there is going to be quite a big fight. It is not nearly as simple as Malatsi, or even Ramaphosa, saying that they want this and it becoming so. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Firstly, everyone else in the sector who has been covered by the equity regulations in the past, and anyone who could be affected by them in the future, is going to have something to say. Some companies will compete against Starlink in the provision of internet access, not through satellites but via fibre and cellphone networks. They absolutely have a right to be heard here. And then there are politicians — Julius Malema and the EFF (who appear to think that Trump has somehow given them a new lease of life) could well oppose this move. Malatsi himself is now due to appear in Parliament on Tuesday to defend this process. Considering that both his party, the DA, and the president are likely to support him, he might well give quite a robust defence of his decision (and he'll say anyway that, in fact, this is just the beginning of a decision, all he's doing is asking for public comment). Much could depend on the attitude of the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications, Khusela Diko. She was one of the best communicators the ANC produced, and ended up as Ramaphosa's spokesperson. But during the pandemic, she had to leave her position after being accused of involvement in Covid-19 tenders. In the middle of the dispute, her husband passed away. Eventually, she was found not guilty of wrongdoing and re-entered politics through Parliament. Telecommunications is the ultimate network industry; if you make communication easier and cheaper, your economy grows dramatically. Our problems in this space are one of the reasons our economy has not grown properly for so long. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Generally speaking, a service like Starlink that provides reliable internet services wherever you are should be a huge boon for a country as big as ours. But it is wrong to think Starlink and services like it are a silver bullet. They are too expensive compared with most other services, and are only really economically viable in places where there is no fibre (while fibre was first rolled out for companies and then in suburban areas, it is becoming much more common in township areas too). Yes, there are schools and police stations in many places that could benefit from the service, but it won't make a huge difference. Unless the cost comes down quite dramatically. I also wonder a bit about why Musk is so determined to have it operating here. He has already complied with regulations in other countries, and I obviously understand he would not want to give up any ownership. And why should he! But he looked almost unhinged when talking about our BEE laws at the Qatar Economic Forum last week and clearly doesn't like what South Africa has become. Thankfully, it seems unlikely that he could ever have a monopoly over the provision of internet services. Considering how his AI engine Grok was making up facts about 'white genocide' last week, this is a very good thing. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads My own suspicion is that Starlink will come to South Africa and will comply with whatever non-equity BEE provision there is. But don't be surprised if there are several court cases first, as competing operators and competing politicians try to make mileage out of the fight. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Musk is a wonderful figure to oppose. And too many have too much to gain for this to be easy. DM
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
After celebrity spaceflight, Blue Origin unveils next launch crew including NE Ohio man
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin spaceflight company is preparing to send its next group of passengers on a brief trip high above Earth to witness a view few other civilians have ever seen. The impending spaceflight would be Blue Origin's first since the company made headlines in April when a group of famous women, including pop star Katy Perry, boarded the company's spacecraft for a ride to the edge of space. This time around, though, the crew is comprised not of celebrities, but of educators and entrepreneurs. Blue Origin announced Wednesday, May 21, the names of the crew members who are due to fly on the company's famous New Shepard spacecraft when it lifts off again from rural West Texas. Among the crew of passengers named to fly is Northeast Ohio businessman Paul Jeris, known as "Put-in-Bay Paul." Jeris is a world traveler and thrill-seeker who has visited roughly 150 countries, according to Fox 8. Fox reported that Jeris had been on the Blue Origin waiting list for years before finally getting the call to experience the company's version of space flight. 'They called me and they said, 'are you ready to go?'' Jeris said, according to Fox 8. 'I was so excited!' The launch, the date for which has not yet been announced, would be New Shepard's 12th human spaceflight and 32nd flight overall. Here's everything we know so far about Blue Origin's next rocket launch from Texas: Billionaire Jeff Bezos, best known for founding Amazon, is the founder of the private space technology company Blue Origin. Bezos himself even boarded Blue Origin's New Shepard for its maiden crewed voyage in July 2021, which came after the spacecraft flew on 15 flight tests beginning in 2012. For nearly four years since its first crewed mission, the New Shepard spacecraft has served as a powerful symbol of Blue Origin's commercial spaceflight ambitions amid a growing space tourism industry. In addition to sending space tourists on brief joy rides to the edge of space, Blue Origin has also increasingly sought to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX. Blue Origin's massive New Glenn rocket, which flew on its inaugural flight test in January, is also being developed for future spaceflights. At 320 feet tall, the spacecraft rivals SpaceX's 400-foot Starship in size. Even Amazon is competing with SpaceX by developing its own Kuiper internet satellite constellation in a direct challenge to Starlink. Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launches take place from the company's private ranch facility known as Launch Site One in Van Horn, Texas – more than 140 miles east of El Paso. However, the company has not yet announced the date for its next crewed launch, known as NS-32. Once the New Shepard does get off the ground again, the six people selected to board it will join 58 others who have flown on the spacecraft across 11 previous human spaceflights. Here's a look at who was announced for the mission: Aymette (Amy) Medina Jorge, a STEM teacher at Odyssey Academy in Galveston, Texas, who has led more than 60 zero-gravity space experiments. Gretchen Green, a radiologist specializing in women's imaging with more than 20 years of clinical experience. Jaime Alemán, a Panamanian attorney, businessman, and former ambassador to the United States. Jesse Williams, a Canadian entrepreneur and adventurer who serves as CEO of Car History Group, which he founded in 2012. Mark Rocket, an entrepreneur from Christchurch, New Zealand, who is CEO of Kea Aerospace, which develops solar-powered UAVs for aerial imaging and monitoring, and president of Aerospace New Zealand. Paul Jeris, a Northeast Ohio real estate developer and entrepreneur The upcoming Blue Origin launch comes on the heels of a highly publicized celebrity spaceflight on April 14 featuring musical artist Katy Perry and broadcast journalist Gayle King. Also on the flight for the mission known as NS-31 was civil rights activist and bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, filmmaker Kerianne Flynn and Lauren Sánchez, an Emmy Award-winning journalist who is the fiancé of Jeff Bezos. The women made history as the first all-female crew to travel to space since 1963, when the Soviet Union's Valentina Tereshkova completed a solo spaceflight, Blue Origin has said. But the women who were part of the mission also faced widespread backlash for a launch that was widely criticized as a marketing ploy that contributed to Earth's pollution. Each spaceflight on a New Shepard vehicle lasts about 11 minutes from liftoff to capsule touchdown. Named after astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American in space, the 60-foot-tall New Shepard rocket is topped with the gum drop-shaped crew capsule. During its ascent, the spacecraft reaches supersonic speeds surpassing 2,000 mph before the rocket booster separates from the crew capsule. At that point, those aboard the capsule become weightless as the spacecraft continues toward its highest point on its brief voyage above the Kármán Line – the 62-mile-high internationally recognized boundary of space. While experiencing a few minutes of microgravity, passengers have the opportunity to unstrap themselves from their seats to gaze out the capsule's large windows and take in a stunning view of Earth. Meanwhile, the rocket booster heads back to the ground while firing its engines and using its fins to slow and control its descent to land about two miles from the launchpad. The capsule itself eventually begins what Blue Origin refers to as a "stable freefall' – plummeting back to Earth as three massive parachutes deploy and the capsule makes a soft landing in the desert, sending up plumes of dust. If you have dreams of blasting off to orbit on a Blue Origin spacecraft, you likely need to either have very deep pockets or a name that's recognizable enough to get you invited as an honored guest. Though Blue Origin does not publicly list prices on its website, a form to reserve a seat requires customers to agree to a $150,000 deposit alone. And if the price of the first ticket sold for a Blue Origin spaceflight is any indicator, seats likely cost in the millions of dollars. The $28 million ticket price was the winning bid in an auction that included 7,600 people registered to bid from 159 countries. However, a select few passengers over the years have had their seats aboard New Shepard paid through grants and other funding methods from large institutions. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Blue Origin announces 1st launch since Katy Perry, Gayle King flight
San Francisco Chronicle
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Kruk & Kuip let fans in on behind-the-scenes shenanigans during SF Sketchfest tribute
Since they were San Francisco Giants teammates, Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper had a rule: if they didn't laugh 'very hard' at least five times every game, then they'd had a bad night. The two former baseball pros, first brought together during a blustery three-season tenure at Candlestick Park from 1983-85, recall regularly passing time on the bench by making crude commentary during gameplay — provided it remained safely out of earshot of no-nonsense manager Frank Robinson. That banter's never stopped. The duo, affectionately known by fans as Kruk & Kuip, have been the voice of Giants gametime TV since 1990, with former pitcher Krukow on color commentary and the one-time infielder Kuiper on play-by-play. But on a rare off-night between Giants home games, the Hall of Fame-bound broadcasters came out of the booth for a special tribute presented by SF Sketchfest. The friends arrived onto the Sydney Goldstein Theatre stage Thursday, May 15, decked in matching sequin-encrusted gold and silver blazers, capped off with comical flaming torch headwear courtesy of the newly christened Hoo Lee Gans, a fan club for Korean outfielder and rising Giants star Jung Hoo Lee. Eager to see their cherished interplay in action, moderator Jesse Thorn, of NPR's 'Bullseye,' quickly tasked Kruk & Kuip with providing on-the-spot commentary for highlight footage from their own careers. And there's nothing quite like hearing Kuiper utter his iconic 'it ... is ... OUTTA here' in reference to his own — and only — home run of his 11-year MLB career. 'It's weird because as a regular listener, I hear them talk almost on a daily basis. But this was different,' said Peter Bellamy, who drove in from Stockton. 'Not only was it cool to hear them swear, but it was also really sweet to see how much they both still mean to each other after all this time.' Kuiper's meta-call of his home run was just one of many highlights of the evening, which even featured limited merchandise designed by local retailer San Franpsycho like hats emblazoned with the pair's popular 'Gamer Babe' catchphrase. Though occasionally rambunctious, the crowd mostly channeled an atmosphere of reverence as they listened to the pair reminisce about their singular tenure as teammates on the field, then partners calling the game in the booth. 'He didn't like me, and I thought he was just OK,' Kuiper recalled with a laugh. 'He was a peacock,' Krukow told Thorn, 'so I had half an attitude against him. And then when I got traded to the Giants and got to the clubhouse, it took me about five minutes to fall in love with him.' The close friends consistently exuded the confidence of a long-running vaudeville act. While unscripted, every line sounded polished as they shared their stories, ranging from an affinity for Croix de Candlestick pins (free to those who endured extra-innings in the notoriously chilly weather at the Giants now-defunct former home) to the decades of pranks they pulled on friends and colleagues. 'During my time sharing the booth with (Hall of Fame broadcaster) Joe Morgan, he would take his headset off and ask someone for a hotdog,' Kuiper gleefully shared. 'I could see Joe in the reflection of the window from my seat, so every time he took a big bite, I would go 'I thought that pitch was a little outside Joe, what do you think? ' and he would start spitting out the dog trying to get his set back on. Then I'd say, 'Nevermind,' and he never caught on.' While rich with the laughs one might expect — at one point Thorn forced the two to play 'The Match Game' to hilarious results — Thursday's tribute also included more than a few profound observations from two friends who have shared more than 40 years side by side. Sitting in a wheelchair, Krukow was blunt about living with inclusion body myositis, a progressive inflammatory muscle disease that causes muscle weakness. The 73-year-old said 'it sucks' to no longer be able to take part in activities he used to enjoy while also sharing a touching anecdote about all the highs his life has brought him. 'You can't write your own story on the way out,' Krukow went on. 'You don't know what's going to happen and it isn't always fair, but when I lay down at night and close my eyes, it's September 1985 and I'm walking into Shea Stadium to face the New York Mets. I never get past the third inning, but I have that experience, and it's a gift.' Kuiper, 74, similarly pointed to baseball and his friendship with Krukow as anchors that helped him to survive his grief since the unexpected death of his wife Michelle in 2022. 'I'd been going to spring training for 48 years — always Arizona — so I needed to get to spring training. Everybody grieves differently,' he said. 'When I got there, I knew I was going to be OK because I was going to be able to do games with this guy and watch the team I love, and I know that's what she would want.' Aware of the evening's rarity, fans from near and far flocked to fill the space, donning Giants gear and gamely singing along during a show-closing rendition of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' lead by Krukow. 'As broadcasters, we get to do something that the players never get to do,' Krukow told the audience. 'We're in your living room every night having dinner with you during the season. You know us. We're part of your family. That has been the greatest gift that you could ever give anyone.'
